Ugandan Authorities Warn Young Women Amid Rising Cases of Abandonment by Foreign Road Contractors
Ugandan officials have cautioned young women in regions where foreign contractors are stationed, highlighting a concerning increase in cases of local girls being left stranded after becoming pregnant by road construction workers.
Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of International Affairs, disclosed that in the past two weeks alone, 16 young women had sought assistance from the ministry after being abandoned by contractors who returned to their home countries.
Mundeyi noted that many of the affected women lacked crucial details about the men involved, including their names and nationalities, making it difficult to seek support or accountability.
“When you ask them the names and details of the people that impregnated them, they have no idea. They don't know their names, their countries of origin, or what they do or look like,” he said.
Mundeyi stated that the contractors often lured the girls with financial promises, leading them to believe that government assistance would be available once they became pregnant.
However, the harsh reality proved otherwise, as the girls found themselves abandoned with children and no legal means to seek support.
Government's Response to the Issue The Ministry has investigated foreign companies operating on Ugandan roads and found that many workers involved in these relationships were actually prisoners serving their sentences.
“We have discovered that most of the workers these companies bring in are prisoners fulfilling their sentences here,” stated Mundeyi.
This revelation has raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of local girls, who may unknowingly enter relationships with these foreign workers without understanding their true identities or backgrounds.
Past Incidents and Their Impact on Infrastructure Projects This troubling pattern is not new. Similar cases in previous years attracted international attention and disrupted Ugandan infrastructure projects.
In 2015, the World Bank Group withdrew funding from the Uganda Transport Sector Development Project (TSDP) after an investigation uncovered that Chinese contractors had sexually abused and impregnated underage girls in Kamwenge district.
The inquiry revealed serious allegations of road workers engaging in sexual relationships with minors in the community and instances of sexual harassment toward female employees.
Given these concerns, Mundeyi and the Ministry have issued a public advisory urging young women in areas where foreign contractors are working to remain cautious.
“If someone hits on you, try to get their name, get a copy of their passport, and ask them questions before having their babies, because they will vanish from you,” he urged.
